A ready-to-assemble bed foundation in kit form including a pair of exterior beams connectable to a pair of transverse end members having openings, and an interior beam between the exterior beams having opposing end portions configured to engage the openings in the transverse end members. A method of selling a bed, and a method of assembling a bed are also disclosed.
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8. A ready-to-assemble bed foundation in kit form comprising in unassembled condition:
a pair of preassembled multipart exterior side beams having two ends with connectors at each end that include parallel, spaced-apart tongues rigidly supported on a base plate,
a pair of preassembled multipart transverse end members each having two ends with connectors at each end that include parallel spaced-apart tongues rigidly supported on a base plate and each having a medial opening between its ends,
pins for insertion through the connectors attached to one end of one side beam and one end of a transverse member, and
a preassembled multipart interior beam including end portions configured to extend into the medial openings in the transverse end members, and
a container for shipping the multipart preassembled subcomponents in kit form, the multipart preassembled subcomponents being positioned within the container to form the kit,
whereby the preassembled side beams and end members are removable from the container for subsequent assembly into a quadrilateral prismatic shape including top, bottom, side and end faces of the bed foundation with the multipart interior beam extending between the transverse end members and the pins can be inserted in interleaved ones of the connectors at corners of the quadrilateral shape to maintain the shape with the multipart interior beam held in position between the transverse end members.
1. A ready-to-assemble bed foundation kit comprising:
separate multipart preassembled subcomponents that can be assembled into a bed foundation and a container in which the separate multipart preassembled subcomponents are shippable, the separate multipart preassembled subcomponents including:
a pair of multipart transverse end members;
a pair of multipart exterior side supports, each exterior side support configured to extend upon final assembly longitudinally from one of the transverse end members to the other, each exterior side support comprising a pair of longitudinal members coupled in spaced apart vertical relation to form a supporting beam upon final assembly as part of the bed foundation;
an interior multipart support configured to extend upon final assembly from one of the transverse end members to the other between the exterior side supports, the interior multipart support comprising a pair of interior longitudinal members coupled in spaced apart relation to form a beam upon final assembly as part of the bed foundation;
the exterior side supports and transverse end members having connector components, the connector components of the side supports configured to cooperatively connect with connector components of the transverse end members, and
a plurality of spaced apart slats each having a surface defining a portion of the uppermost surface of the bed foundation upon final assembly and each supported by the interior multipart support and at their ends by one of the pair of exterior side supports, whereby to assemble the separate preassembled subcomponents to form the bed foundation, the exterior side supports are affixable upon final assembly to the transverse end members by connecting their cooperating connector components, retaining the interior multipart support between the exterior side supports and joined to the transverse end members, and the slats can be mounted to span the exterior side supports and the interior multipart support.
9. A ready to assemble kit including the following preassembled kit subcomponents contained in a container, the preassembled kit subcomponents being interconnectable on site, and after shipment in the container, to form a bed foundation for use with a mattress:
first and second preassembled side beams, each side beam comprising upper and lower longitudinal members coupled in spaced apart vertical relation by a plurality of spaced apart blocks extending between the upper and lower longitudinal members;
a preassembled interior beam, the preassembled interior beam comprising upper and lower interior longitudinal members coupled in spaced apart vertical relation by a plurality of spaced apart blocks extending between the upper and lower interior longitudinal members;
first and second preassembled transverse end beams, each end beam comprising upper and lower transverse members coupled in spaced apart vertical relation by a plurality of spaced apart blocks extending between the upper and lower transverse members;
connectors for attaching corners of the first and second preassembled transverse end beams to corners of the first and second preassembled side beams to define a periphery of a quadrilateral bed foundation having a bed foundation length and bed foundation width upon final assembly of the preassembled kit subcomponents with the preassembled interior beam extending between the first and second preassembled transverse end beams and parallel within the first and second preassembled side beams;
a plurality of slats attachable between the first and side preassembled side beams upon final assembly; and
the container in which the preassembled kit subcomponents of the kit are packaged therein in a configuration prior to final assembly, the container having a length sufficient to receive the first and second preassembled side beams and the a preassembled interior beam, and a width less than the bed foundation width so that the kit can be shipped in a volume less than a bed foundation volume.
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This application is a continuation of pending application Ser. No. 11/501,217.
The disclosure is directed to a ready-to-assemble bed foundation. More specifically, the bed foundation includes a pair of exterior side beams connectable to a pair of transverse end members having openings. The foundation also includes an interior beam between the side beams having opposing end portions configured to engage the openings in the transverse end members.
Ready-to-assemble bed foundations are known. Many are expensive and difficult to assemble, while others are of the type having a solid panel immediately below a mattress or box spring. These panels are often bulky or otherwise not suited to cost-effective shipping and storage. Other prior art foundations prevent access to the area below the mattress for storage, or do not provide for the addition of a slipcover. Thus, the prior art has not adequately addressed the need for a ready-to-assembly bed foundation that is economical to manufacture and easy to assemble, provides a comfortable yet stable support, permits access to a storage area under the bed, and provides for the addition of a slipcover.
The disclosure is directed to a ready-to-assemble bed foundation having a pair of exterior side beams connectable to a pair of transverse end members having openings. The foundation also includes an interior beam having opposing end portions configured to engage the openings.
In this embodiment, the transverse end members, side beams, and interior beam of the foundation may include a pair of opposing longitudinal members coupled in spaced apart relation to a plurality of blocks. In addition, two of the blocks of the end members may be disposed in opposed relation to define an opening slightly larger than the opposing end portions of the interior beam.
The disclosure is further directed to an embodiment of a ready-to-assemble bed foundation including a pair of transverse end members; a pair of exterior side supports extending longitudinally from one of the transverse end members to the other, an interior support between the exterior side supports, and a plurality of spaced apart slats. Each of the slats has a surface defining a portion of the upper surface of the foundation and each is supported at opposing ends by the exterior supports and by the interior support between the opposing ends. The foundation of this embodiment also includes fasteners for coupling the slats at opposite ends to the exterior supports and permitting selective removal of the slats from the supports. The fasteners include a central stem and a plurality of flexible flanges surrounding the stem.
In this embodiment, the exterior side supports may include a plurality of slots for receiving the slats. Each slot is at least partially defined by a pair of opposing walls that are transversely oriented in relation to the longitudinal extension of the exterior side supports and a surface between the opposing walls substantially coplanar with a surface of the interior support for supporting. The surface includes an opening for receiving the fasteners, such that the slats are coupled at opposing ends to the exterior supports.
Another embodiment of a ready-to-assemble bed foundation is disclosed including an upper surface at least partially defined by generally coplanar tops of interchangeable slats. The slats are positioned to provide openings in the top of the foundation. Each of the slats is supported at both ends by one of a series of beams including a interior beam in floating engagement at each opposing end with one of a pair of transverse foundation end members.
A method of selling beds is disclosed including in an embodiment, selling a collapsed mattress, selling a disassembled foundation, and permitting a customer to carry the collapsed mattress and disassembled foundation to a car for transport to a residence for assembly of the foundation and uncollapsing of the mattress.
A method of assembling a bed is also disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes assembling a foundation by placing each of a pair of opposing ends of an interior support into an opening in one of a pair of a transverse end members, connecting a pair of exterior side beams to the transverse end members, and placing a plurality of slats into slots formed in the exterior side beams. The method may also include placing a slipcover on the foundation, uncollapsing a mattress and placing the mattress on the foundation.
These and other embodiments of the foundation will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings.
The illustrations and descriptions thereof are for the purpose of describing embodiments of a bed foundation, and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular embodiment shown or described. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the foundation described by the appended claims is subject to numerous embodiments.
The exterior side beam 20 is substantially identical to the beam 40 and includes an upper 22 and lower member 24 spaced vertically by a plurality of blocks 29 between the members 22 and 24. The upper member 22 includes a plurality of spaced apart slots for receiving the slats 70 to provide with ends of the slats 70 a generally planar top surface.
The transverse end member 30 is substantially identical to the member 50 and includes a pair of longitudinal members 32 and 34 spaced vertically by a plurality of blocks 37,38 and 39. The blocks 37 and 38 are spaced to provide an opening sized and positioned for easily receiving an end portion 81 of the interior beam 80. In the embodiment of the foundation 10 shown in
The bed foundation can be provided in various sizes including but not limited to twin, double, queen, king and California king.
The connectors of U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,500, discussed above have a series of holes that taper in diameter and the pin used with them has a taper, the tapers being used to lock the connector together.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. All such modifications and improvements have not been included herein but may properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.
The invention may also be characterized thusly:
A. A method of selling beds comprising
selling a collapsed mattress that can be carried by an adult customer by him or herself,
selling a disassembled foundation having longitudinal parts and cross members to retain the longitudinal parts in an assembly in its disassembled state that can be carried by an adult customer by him or herself,
permitting a customer to carry the collapsed mattress and disassembled foundation to a car for transport to a residence for assembly of the foundation and uncollapsing of the mattress.
B. A method of assembling a bed foundation comprising
placing each of a pair of opposing ends of an interior beam into an opening in one of a pair of a transverse end members,
connecting a pair of exterior side beams to the transverse end members, and
placing a plurality of slats into each of a pair of slat tracks so the slats span from the exterior side beams to the interior beam.
C. The method according to Paragraph B further comprising placing a slipcover on the foundation.
D. The method according to Paragraph B further comprising uncollapsing a mattress and placing the uncollapse mattress on the foundation.
E. The method of Paragraph B, wherein connecting includes interleaving connector loops that are attached to the exterior side beams and the transverse end members and inserting a pin into the interleaved loops to retain them together.
F. A ready-to-assemble bed foundation comprising:
a pair of exterior side beams having two ends with connectors at each end that include parallel, spaced-apart tongues rigidly supported on a base plate,
a pair of transverse end members each having two ends with connectors at each end that include parallel spaced-apart tongues rigidly supported on a base plate and each having a medial opening between its ends,
pins for insertion through interleaved ones of the connectors attached to one end of one side beam and one end of a transverse member, and
an interior beam including end portions configured to extend into the medial openings in the transverse end members,
whereby the side beams and end members can be assembled into a quadrilateral shape with the interior beam extending between the transverse ends and the pins can be inserted in interleaved ones of the connectors at corners of the quadrilateral shape to maintain the shape with the interior beam held in position between the transverse ends.
G. A method of selling beds comprising:
offering a collapsed mattress and disassembled foundation to purchasers through an offering medium selected from the group of consisting of a catalog, an internet website, a telephone solicitation, and a physical store;
accepting an order from a purchaser for the collapsed mattress and disassembled foundation; and
shipping the collapsed mattress and disassembled foundation to the purchaser for assembly of the foundation and uncollasping of the mattress.
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